Schiff introduces bill to improve auditing of Medicare

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) re-introduced a bill on Tuesday to improve the nation’s system for auditing Medicare in an effort to reduce soaring healthcare costs.

The Medicare Audit Improvement Act, which Schiff introduced along with Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), would amend the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 to fix problems that have since arisen with the execution of the law.

The bill, which was first introduced in October of last year, would attempt to lessen the administrative burden the audit process places on hospitals by putting a cap on the amount of document requests auditors can make.

Schiff said in a statement that the new bill would help strengthen the fiscal integrity of Medicare.

“This bill addresses critical operational problems in the Recovery Audit Contractor program, which directly contribute to the skyrocketing cost of healthcare,” Schiff said. “Ensuring the accuracy of audits allows us to continue to recoup improper Medicare payments fairly and efficiently.”